There’s a difference between a house and a home, and most of us have felt it without being able to explain exactly what it is. What fills the gap is design, and in my experience, that feeling almost always traces back to a woman. The warmth, the welcome, and the quiet sense that someone has paid attention to the flow of life in a space is the result of what mothers do instinctively and what designers do strategically.
I don’t say that to be sexist, Mother’s Day simply has me reflecting on how I’ve approached home design through the perspective of a mother and as a designer. I’ve spent decades walking into people’s homes, and the spaces that feel most alive and personal are almost always the ones where a woman has left her mark. Not just decorating, but curating. Filling rooms and shaping them around the people who live there.
It’s an instinct that runs deep. The way a mother notices when the light in a room isn’t quite right, or adds one carefully selected throw, tray, or plant is part of the secret sauce that makes a room and home make sense.
As a designer, my job is to give that instinct a framework. To take the feeling a woman has about her home and expand on it with my industry knowledge and expertise, because making a house a home isn’t accidental. It’s a series of quiet, considered choices that add up to something greater than the sum of their parts.
A mix of texture and greenery featuring the Pezzo Throw, Fasita Potted Snake Plant and Bechet Silver Tray
Designer-Selected Decor Choices That Elevate a Room
Great design isn’t about following trends or filling a room with expensive pieces. Instead, focus on creating layered, thoughtful selections that reflect who you are and how you actually live. The accents and decor choices that make the biggest impact are the ones chosen with intention. They tell your story and work together to create a space that feels cohesive and completely yours.
Here are the details I always come back to when it’s time to elevate a room:
Devon Coverlet Collection in stone-washed cotton and linen, made in Portugal
Textiles
Nothing transforms a room faster than fabric. A fresh set of pillows, a throw draped over the sofa, or a new duvet that finally feels like the season can completely refresh the energy of any room. Textiles add warmth, texture, and personality in a way nothing else can.
If your style is classic and tailored, look for crisp linens and structured patterns. If you lean more relaxed and organic, reach for chunky weaves, natural fibers, and botanical prints. Either way, layering is the goal.
This Devon coverlet and sham combo comes in beautiful muted colors, perfect for summer.
Calais Table Lamp with pale blue glass, chrome accents and a white linen shade
Lighting
Overhead lighting is functional, but rarely flattering or interesting. Layer in a table lamp, a floor lamp, or a collection of candles and notice how differently your room feels. Lighting sets the mood of a space, which directly affects how you feel when you’re in it. For a warm, intimate feel, go for soft amber tones. For something brighter and more energizing, lean into white light and reflective surfaces like mirrors and metallics.
Something like this beautiful, handmade glass and chrome lamp can brighten up any room in your home.
Spring Cherry Blossom Centerpiece with faux cherry blossoms in blush and ivory tones
Botanical Accents
Every room needs something living, or at least something that appears alive. A potted plant, a fresh arrangement, and a beautifully made faux botanical are all elements that signal to the brain that a space is breathing. For a modern aesthetic, try a single sculptural plant in a clean-lined planter. For something more romantic and layered, cluster a few different botanicals at varying heights and let them feel collected rather than placed.
Enjoy a pop of colorful life all year round with this spring cherry blossom centerpiece.
Personal Objects
This is the detail that separates a designed room from a lived-in home. Any room can copy a showroom, but your personal story is what brings a home to life. The photograph, travel find, or piece of art you and your family select is the top layer that gives your house that loving vibe that feels irreplaceable. Don’t be afraid to display what you love. A well-styled shelf or a thoughtfully curated nightstand gives your home the character and personality that directly reflect you and your loved ones.
Choosing artistic accents for your home like the Lila Bowl adds your own energy and taste to a space.
Lila Bowl with a soft green glaze and sculptural ruffled edge
Edit Ruthlessly
This is the step most people skip, and it’s often the most important one. Remove what isn’t earning its place. Clear the surfaces. Give the room space to breathe. Clutter is the enemy of calm, and no matter your aesthetic, calm is always what a home should feel like. When in doubt, take it out.
If you need help deciding what needs to go and what pieces give your space the most life, our interior design services can help you decide what to curate, what to donate, and how best to use the space in your home.
Cheers to refreshing summer drinks
Prepping Your Home for Summer Guests
Hosting season is right around the corner, and if you’re lucky enough to have a shore house or host summer visitors, you already know how quickly the season sneaks up on you. A little prep now means you won’t be scrambling in June.
Here’s where I focus this time of year:
Refresh Your Beach Towels
This is the one that always gets overlooked until someone shows up and you’re handing out threadbare towels from three summers ago. Invest in a fresh set before the season starts. Look for something oversized, quick-drying, and in colors that feel like summer. Bold stripes, warm sandy neutrals, or a pop of coral or turquoise are fun ways to celebrate the sunshine.
Bring Summer Colors In
Summer has its own palette, and a few well-placed accents can shift a room from spring to full summer energy almost instantly. Think warm whites, ocean blues, sandy neutrals, and touches of brightness; look for inspiration in your area’s blooming flowerbeds. A new throw pillow, a fresh piece of artwork, or even a change in your table linens can do the trick without a full room refresh.
Let the Season Lead
Summer decorating should feel effortless and relaxed. Lighter fabrics, brighter accents, and an openness will give your home the airy energy of the season from Memorial Day straight through Labor Day.
Shop summer refresh pieces and beach essentials at The Shop by Holly Volpe and make sure your home is ready for every guest, every weekend, all summer long.